Kiwi songstress Elizabeth, also known as Lizzie, Marvelly is exchanging her ball gown for black jeans as she makes the leap from opera to pop.

The Rotorua native has been singing since she was eight and is well-known for her operatic performances, national anthem renditions during sporting matches and touring with her uncle the late Sir Howard Morrison.

However, the 24-year-old needed a change of scene.

Marvelly said she loved what she was doing but realised at the end of her 2012 tour the opera music was not in her heart.

"I just had this moment."

Marvelly said the change of tack had given her the opportunity to write her own songs.

After she wrote her "quota of rubbish" she produced some tracks that were worthy of her EP, she said.

"I really loved not having any boundaries."

Marvelly said "broadly" her new work fell into the pop genre but she wanted to let people label it for themselves, just as she wanted the public to make up their own minds about her new direction.

"I think the music really speaks for itself."

Marvelly said she was not trying to reinvent her image.

Actively trying to change people's perceptions of her would seem "contrived", she said.

The change between Marvelly's music now and when she started out was that now she had something to say, she said.

Speaking about currently controversial pop star Miley Cyrus, Marvelly said she was a young girl just trying to express herself.

"As long as she is doing what makes her happy."

At the other end of the spectrum, what kiwi teenage singer Lorde had achieved was "mind blowing", Marvelly said.

"It's so cool for the New Zealand music industry as a whole."

Marvelly said Lorde's success in New Zealand and the US had helped put New Zealand music back on the world stage.

Australian-based kiwi singer Kimbra had also helped boost the international profile of New Zealand music in recent years, she said.

Marvelly described her new single Generation young as a "youth anthem".

She wrote the song after having deep and meaningful conversations about current social issues with her producer and other artists, she said.

In 2014 Marvelly wanted to continue experimenting with music after a "massive" year of learning and inspiration in 2013, she said.

Marvelly said she thinks her late uncle Sir Howard would have liked her new music, as he was open to all genres.

The Auckland based singer, previously signed with EMI, would be releasing her EP independently this year.* Lizzie Marvelly's single Generation Young is available on iTunes from January 10.